COLUMBUS - Michigan State freshman Branden Dawson underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ACL one day after suffering the injury during the regular season finale in Big Ten play.

The timing of the surgery prevented the former McDonald's All-American from joining his teammates on the bench for a run to a Big Ten Tournament Championship last weekend. But with a green light to travel, Dawson was not about to miss the first weekend of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

"It was very important for me, just being around these guys," Dawson said, "just seeing them get ready for a big game against Long Island seeing that that guys are ready. Just being here is very, very special.

"Coach Izzo asked me if I wanted to come and if I was going to be alright," Dawson recalled. "I told him that I was going to be alright and that I just wanted to be around these guys."